"Quit messing around Emerson!" I knew I shouldn't have gotten in the car with this idiot.
"Oh calm down. It's not like we can die." He gave me a stupid grin, letting me know he wasn't done acting stupid. He shifted gears drifting the car around the curve of the cliff. "Doesn't mean we won't get hurt when you crash!" I held on to the handle over my head. Emerson was a giant of a man. He was 6'5 with a physique of a bodybuilder. He was only 20, but his muscle busted through almost every shirt he owned. He was always seeking a new thrill, anything to get his adrenaline running. The street lights zoomed past us, illuminating the inside of the car every few seconds, showing me the excitement swirling in his eyes.Emerson blasted his rock music as he continued to speed down the road. This year he decided to dye his hair a cool silver with a black undertone. He finally finished his tattoo sleeve, on his right arm, with a drop of blood outlined in black. He said it's for the blood we don't shed. "I swear if I get a limb cut off again because of you…" I stared daggers at his chiseled face, not needing to finish that threat. "Oh come on, Zerena. Loosen up and have some fun." He shifted gears again, now approaching 120 mph. "I know how to have fun. This… this isn't fun." I grabbed the handle tighter. I hate getting hurt. "Too late, they caught up." Percy leaned forward from the back seat. His long black hair tickled my hand on the middle console. His sharp features illuminated for a moment by the street lights. His black eyes showed me the vision playing in his head. "Damnit." Emerson muttered. A couple minutes later, a black McLaren came into view. "For f*cks sake Emerson! You just had to go all guns blazing. We had a plan!" I scolded him. "Too late to scold him now." Tally chimed from the back. "I'll get us out of this, just lower the window and cover your ears." She seemed to be having fun. Her dark blue hair seemed almost black in the night. Her eyes went all black, past her iresis, as she called on her banshee. She rolled down her window, ready to let out her scream. I poked my fingers in my ears, knowing it wouldn't do much good. It'll be better than nothing at least. She stuck her head out of the window and inhaled a large breath before opening her mouth and releasing her banshee screech. Our windshield cracked and my ears felt like they were going to bleed before she finally stopped. The McLeran's tires popped and windows busted. They spun out of control crashing off the side of the cliff. "I think we're good now. You can slow down, speed racer." I glared at Emerson who was now going 130. "You're such a downer." Emerson gave me a side eye. He grinned at me though, as he took his foot off the gas finally. He shifted slowly back down to the speed limit. My heart did the same, slowing down to its normal pace. I could kill this guy sometimes. "Zerena." Kellan's long fingers grabbed my shoulders and I knew exactly what his little siren self was trying to do. He spun his finger in my dark purple locks, and I leaned forward. "Nope. Kellan, I will literally behead you if I ever wake up in your bed again." The memories flashed in my head and I shuddered. He's lucky I didn't kill him that night. He's lucky I needed the tension release. "You know you had fun." His low silky voice came from beside my ear. I placed my hand on his face and pushed it back. "One night is enough to let me know I don't want to do it again." Tally giggled, from the back seat, at my comment. "Oh don't be that way, Rena." Kellan sat back up. "Zerena." I corrected him. "And quit trying before I punch you.""No fun." Kellan muttered. "See, you are no fun." Emerson chimed in, trying to make his point. "I'll kill you both." I deadpanned, and they all laughed. I rolled my eyes, leaning my head against the window. I hate them all. I'm only stuck with them because they are the only successes from the Scientist experiments. Little junkie mommy and daddy sold their daughter to a scientist that made the best drugs. They get a lifetime supply and he got me in exchange. A supernatural baby, a shadow weaver, to experiment on. He enhanced us with a healing ability so strong that we stay alive even when our heads are chopped off. It's not a fun experience to try to reattach your own head. We work for him, running his errands. Hired guns is what you could call us. Only we aren't really hired, we're forced. "Who's hungry?" Emerson shouted. "We really should get this back to the lab. You know that McLeran isn't going to be the only car after us." I advised, but it fell on deaf ears as everyone chimed they were hungry. "We'll stop by the gas station and get some snacks while there. We need gas anyway." Emerson looked at me, waiting for my approval. I sighed, caving in. "You better make it quick. I get a feeling they aren't done chasing us for this." I held up the rare mermaid's pearl we had just stolen. Can't imagine what the Scientist needs this for. Some new experiment I'm sure. "Got it." Emerson smiled drifting the car beside a gas pump, attracting unnecessary attention. "You feel good?" I asked, not amused. "Extremely." He grinned childishly at me as he got down. Everyone, but me, went inside. I have made it a rule to never go out in public. Not only does it help me with never getting caught, it keeps me from running into my destined one. Never find my destined one. It's the only way to survive this life I live. I began pumping the gas, watching them all go inside and start browsing the aisles of the convenience store. A sudden wave of dread came over me. That's never a good thing. I looked around and saw the car 3 miles away. My vision was the best out of us all. I could use the shadows to see great distances. Being a shadow weaver has its conveniences. 'Emerson!' I linked him. We could all telepath to one another. The Scientist did that to us too. Emerson didn't respond. This little asshole blocked me out. They'll be here soon. We need to go. I swear, Emerson, if you make me break my rule… you'll be the first one I killThis book is the 3rd book in a series, but can be read alone. If you are interested in reading the books that precede them you can find them on my author page. Book one is University of Love and book 2 is The Ember In The Dark. Hope you're enjoying the book
I raced to the door avoiding eye contact with anyone outside. I tried not to breathe too deeply, afraid I would inhale an intoxicating smell. I opened the doors to the convenience store holding my breath for as long as I could. I spotted them all at the register. At least they weren't all spread out through the store. I made my way towards them, until I felt it. The tendrils of my destined one wrap around me. Are you kidding me? The one time, really? The one time I go into a public place. This has got to be a fucking joke. One rule. I have one rule, and because of Emerson it's broken. I could feel the tendrils of the destined one's magic solidifying, but I couldn't tell who it was yet. That is until I couldn't hold my breath any longer. I inhaled right by Emerson, hoping maybe his stench would block out my destined one's scent. I gave little credit to the pull of a destined one, it seems. Their smell couldn't be overpowered by anything. Of course it had to be the guy working the
"Injuries?" I shouted. "Bullet grazed me on my side." Tally reported. "I've got a bullet lodged in my thigh. They were using silver. Someone needs to pull it out of me." Emerson called. "I'm good. Injury free." Percy called out. I felt relief at that. "I cut my hand on some glass. Aside from that, I am good." Kellan finally answered. "What about you?" Emerson asked. "Not a scratch. Why do you think I am the one that leads?" I said arrogantly. I was trying to lighten the mood. They all laughed. "Witnesses?" Tally asked. We always had to get rid of witnesses…. Kiran. "There were two in the store when I entered. They seem to have been shot dead already." I answered, emitting Kiran. "What about the guy running the register?" Percy asked, his all seeing eyes, I swear. "Gone." I lied. I waved my hand around, under the counter, covering Kiran with my shadows. Percy can't see past them. He checked behind the counter, not believing me. There's little trust in this group. We all fi
Kiran's P.O.V.Mom had always told me there were monsters in this world. Creatures hidden in the darkness that we just couldn't see. I always thought it was the rantings of a junkie, but maybe she did actually see something. I watched as this beauty with dark purple hair and lilac eyes disappeared into the earth… swallowed whole by a shadow. A shadow weaver, she said. She didn't tell me why she saved me. She didn't tell me much of anything, really. She fixed the place up like nothing happened. Too bad she can't fix my mind like that. My world just exploded. Now every time someone walks through those doors, I'll wonder if they are human. 'Are you human?' She had asked me. Her first question to me. I guess my response gave it away quickly. I'm human alright. Only now I'm a human that knows. I fell back on the floor still trying to process everything that had happened. This girl was a badass. Not to mention hot as fuck. I had watched her through the corner mirror above the register
Zerena's P.O.V.I had managed to get back to the car right as it pulled into the lab. Emerson tried not to jump. Of course, Kellan was sitting in my spot so I ended up on his lap unintentionally. "I knew you wanted me." He smirked and I pretended to gag. "I'd punch you in the nose if we weren't already here."I got off his lap, taking a seat between Tally and Percy in the back. I rested my feet on the middle console. "Hey!" Emerson pushed my feet off. "No feet on the console." I forget how possessive he is of his vehicle. It has to be in top condition at all times… mechanically and cosmetically. God forbid he gets caught in a beat down car. "Here we go." Percy sighed. Anytime he says that as we pull in I know it means the Scientist isn't happy. He has a name, but I refuse to call him anything other than the Scientist. We're in for either a long talking to with no food for 12 hours, or it's a beating. At worst it’s another experiment. Emerson parked the car in the basement garag
I knocked on Kellan's door. His electric blue eyes looked at me in surprise before a large smile spread across his face. His hair was down around his shoulder instead of in its usually small pony tail. I saw the muscles of his strong jaw tense as he took me into his room. His large hands grabbed my arm firmly. "What's this late night visit, Zerena?" He whispered into my ear seductively. "Don't make me say it, or I'll leave." I rolled my eyes at him. He closed the door and pinned me against the wall. He held my wrists together, above my head with one of his hands. The other hand began to play at the hem of my shirt. His fingers grazed softly over my skin. He was being a tease. He kissed my neck, but it felt a bit disgusting. His touches weren't doing anything for me. This isn't what I thought it'd be like. It's not like it was last time. It's not going to help with anything if I can't get past this gross feeling. "I need a song." I tried to hint at him. He kissed my neck, making m
I kicked my shoes off and laid in bed pretending like I actually got some sleep. This won't be the first time that sleep eludes me for a night. Hopefully today won't be too exhausting. Every day is something new with Scientist. The bell chimed loudly over the speakers in our rooms letting us know it was time to get up. I changed clothes, putting on a tight silky shirt and workout pants. Most of my stuff is black and consists of clothes that are easy to maneuver in. There's an occasional fancy dress or two for when we go undercover. Aside from that, there's not much use for anything else. We're not allowed out unless we're running an errand for the scientist, and even then we're not to be seen. I made my way to the center room. It was lined with light blue tiles the color of clear ocean water. The room was large with white walls and white hard sofa chairs. The coffee table was glass as well as the end tables. There was a white fireplace that's never used. Everything was kept organize
Kiran's P.O.V."Please come see me again." My voice sounded desperate and I hated it. Why am I so desperate to see her? She doesn't even seem that interested in me. She's so laid back and cold. It's hard to get a read on her, maybe that's the way she likes it. I sat in my car alone now, just staring at the passenger seat she had just been in. Her lilac eyes could hold me captive forever. The feeling I got when I touched her couldn't be explained. It consumed me and wrapped around my heart. Zerena. At least I have her name now. I headed back up to my apartment. Mom had passed out on the floor, but I didn't have time to move her earlier. I just checked that she was still alive and went back to Zerena. I bent down and picked mom up off the floor. I carried her to the couch, covering her with the blanket. I began to pick up the empty cans of beers and cigarette buds that littered the floor. I won't touch her needles. She can clean that shit up herself. I went to my room and pulled o
Zerena's P.O.V.Why is my destined one an idiot? He sensed that his coworker wasn't human. Yet instead of distancing himself, he hints that he knows. Then he goes and antagonizes a shifter. Now here I am, saving his ass again when I should be hidden. I grabbed this guy's wrist before his fist made contact with Kiran's face. His dark forest green eyes looked at me surprised. He hadn't been expecting it, but then he surprised me. He smiled at me like he knew I was there. I furrowed my brows at him pushing his wrist back. He was no threat. Did he do that to lure me out? "I knew you smelled different." He told Kiran. I turned to Kiran, annoyed. "Seriously? Don't ever let them know that you know." I shook my head at him, rolling my eyes. No one else had noticed me yet and the cameras weren't on. At least not yet. "Be more careful. I have to go. I won't be back for a while." It was my way of letting him know that he better watch himself. I won't be here to save him. Tonight I will be w